Rangers overtake Orioles

Thursday

Jan 24, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Ed Patinoed.patino@hillsdale.netQUINCY — Ryan Hiller and Zach Thatcher did not look like freshmen for the Reading High School wrestling team.The first-year wrestlers scored key victories Wednesday and lifted the Rangers to a 41-36 victory over the Quincy Orioles in a Big Eight Conference dual.Both teams won seven matches in the dual, but Reading (12-11) was boosted by two pins, a technical fall and a disqualification victory."This was a good league win for us," Reading coach Mark Draper said. "We've been struggling in the league the last couple times out, so it's good to finally get on the winning side."Trailing 30-17 after voiding two matches, Reading shifted the momentum thanks to Alex Ely and Thatcher. Ely pinned Clay McKinley in 1:51 in the 215-pound match, then Thatcher scored six points for the Rangers in the heavyweight match when Quincy's Kyle McKinley was cautioned out for stalling.Tyler Murray gave the Orioles a 35-29 lead with a victory over Dylan Burlew (103), but Derek Hiller (112) and Cameron McKibbin (119) collected voids, giving Reading the victory."Zach is a 200 pound freshman wrestling heavyweight, and the guy he wrestled was every bit of 285," Draper said. "Our freshmen came through when we needed them to. The guys pulled together and rose to the occasion, and you need that at this time of year."Hiller got the Rangers started when he pinned Dallas Connin in 56 seconds during the 135-pound match, giving Reading a 12-3 lead. Jared Brown (140) answered for Quincy by pinning Dale Holmes in double overtime, then Luke Wiser (145) and Dalton Hard (152) recorded back-to-back major decisions, giving the Orioles a 17-12 lead.Jarret Wolford (160) got Reading back in the match with a 16-0 technical fall over Taylor Smith.The Rangers will compete Saturday in the Leslie Tournament before host Union City for the final regular season Big Eight dual Jan. 30.Jonesville 43, Union City 34The Jonesville High School wrestling team kept pace for the Big Eight Conference lead Wednesday with a road victory over the Union City Chargers.Jonesville won eight matches, including two by pinfall and one by major decision. Jacob Stiles (119) pinned Union City's Tristan Banks in 3:22, while William Corbin pinned Davis Fettes in 4:44 during the heavyweight match. Carter Ballinger (130) gave the Comets an 11-3 major decision victory over Jared Shepard and Joe Rodriguez scored an 8-3 decision over Spencer Conell in the 145-pound bout.Michael Iler (103), Sebastian Cousins (171), Julian Rodriguez (189) and Jonathan Rodrigeuz (215) also recorded victories for Jonesville.The Comets will host a team tournament Saturday.Hillsdale at Blissfield QuadThe Hillsdale High School wrestling team dropped a pair of duals at Wednesday's quad meet at Blissfield. The Hornets fell 45-30 to the host Royals, then lost to Division 4 state power Manchester 59-18.Hillsdale recorded five victories against Blissfield. Kevin Curby (160) and Jay Kies (171) got the Hornets off to a 12-0 lead by pinning Adam Crisman and Chris Barnes respectively. Dani Catalan (112), David Rodriguez (135) and Jon Marino (140) also scored pinfalls for the Hornets in the dual.Joe Munger, Curby and Marino gave Hillsdale its victories against the Flying Dutchmen. Munger pinned Steve Suliman in the heavyweight match, while Marino pinned Edoardo Tricierri in the 140-pound bout. Curby (160) scored a pin against Jacob Pate.The Hornets will compete in the Saline Super Duals on Saturday.

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